Avian Care

Question 1

What are the physical identifying features of parrots?

Answer 1

Large heads, hooked beaks, zygodactyl feet (2 front claws 2 back)

Question 2

Should parrots be kept in groups?

Answer 2

Yes - social and live in flocks, need company and supervision

Question 3

What are some common types of pet parrots?

Answer 3

Budgerigars, cockatiels, lovebirds, african grey/timneh grey, cockatoos, macaws

Question 4

How do you sex a cockatoo?

Answer 4

Males have black iris and females have red/brown

Question 5

How do you sex an eclectus?

Answer 5

Males are green and females are red

Question 6

How can you sex a monomorphic psittacine?

Answer 6

Endoscopic sexing, DNA sexing from blood or feather pulp

Question 7

Which type of material should be avoided for constructing cages?

Answer 7

Galvanised wire - zinc toxicity

Question 8

What types of material are good for perches?

Answer 8

Natural branches from non-toxic trees, knotten cotton

Question 9

What types of material NOT are good for perches?

Answer 9

Nylon, sandpaper, plastic/dowel - can cause bumblefoot

Question 10

What are some enrichment activities for parrots?

Answer 10

Bathing/misting essential, foraging, providing food in a form which requires ‘work’ to consume it, non-toxic tree branches

Question 11

Which type of materials should be avoided for chewing toys?

Answer 11

Rubber and plastic

Question 12

Which type of materials are good for chewing toys?

Answer 12

Cardboard, tubes/boxes, pinecones, rawhide chews

Question 13

What is the benefit and drawback of having a mirror in the cage?

Answer 13

Can provide companionship but also stimulate sexual behaviour

Question 14

How much light should parrots get per day?

Answer 14

12 hours of bright (but not direct) sunlight

Question 15

Which supplement is important for egg-laying females?

Answer 15

Calcium

Question 16

Why are 100% seed-based diets a poor choice?

Answer 16

Deficient in vitamins and amino acids, possible contamination with fungal spores, can lead to obesity, atherosclerosis, poor reproductive performance, metabolic bone disease, selective feeding

Question 17

What is the best type of diet for parrots?

Answer 17

Species-specific pelleted diets, supplemented with fruit and veg for enrichment

Question 18

In which species is feather-damaging behaviour more common?

Answer 18

African greys, cockatoos, female

Question 19

What medical evaluations should be undertaken with feather-damaging birds?

Answer 19

Physical examination, biochemistry and haematology, infectious disease testing, radiography, endoscopy

Question 20

What are some environmental factors which can contribute to feather damaging behaviour?

Answer 20

All-seed diet, low humidity, exposure to pollutants/aerosols, lack of sleep, stress/insecurity, overcrowding e.g. aviary

Question 21

What is the treatment for feather damaging?

Answer 21

Treat underling cause first, improve diet, extra warmth, collars if self-traumatising

Question 22

What are some behavioural causes of feather plucking?

Answer 22

Inadequate socialisation when young, inadequate enrichment especially with food, can be tool for coping with stress once reinforced (initial cause can become secondary)

Question 23

When might psychotropic drugs be used to treat feather damaging behaviour?

Answer 23

Only once medical causes excluded, temporarily while environmental/behavioural modifications are implemented and accepted